Around the house

Are you tired of looking at your boring foundation plantings? Do you want to learn how you can add some pizzazz to your landscape? Well join landscape architect and author of Perennial Gardening in Texas, Alan Franz, as he shows you how to reinvigorate your garden and create a unique treasured space. The first part of the class will look at garden design history – both formal and informal – and be followed by the basic design principles used to lay out your garden. The second part will give you hands-on practice designing your own garden. Bring photos, property surveys, site plans, house plans and measurements of your yard to help jump start the design process. Bring your lunch or pick something up at the dining terrace.  $70 or $63 for Members

Fall is a time of transition in the landscape and it is a great time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the garden. Join Bram Franklin, with Techscape Landscape, as he shows you how to bring bold color and texture to your fall and winter landscape. Find out which plants are great choices for these seasons and where they will work best in your landscape. You will be introduced to a variety of plant material that will give your garden the seasonal color that it has been missing.  $25 or $22.50 for Members

Growing roses in Texas is easier than you think, and who wouldn’t want more roses in their garden? Al Olson, Arboretum greenhouse volunteer and avid rose gardener, will show you how to easily add roses to your garden as well as the varieties that stand up to our Texas growing conditions. Learn how to prepare your soil, maintenance and pruning techniques, good watering practices, and which roses grow easily from cuttings. Al will take you on a brief tour of the trial garden to view varieties that are being tested at the Arboretum. This hardy garden shrub is a truly special plant, and after this class it is sure to be one of your garden favorites. $25 or $22.50 for Members

Trees are the largest and often the most valuable plants in our landscapes. Tyson Woods, Director of Moore Tree Care, will share his passion for trees and tell you what you need to know about the trees in your landscape. Learn how to care for the trees that you have, which trees do best in our area, proper placement and planting techniques, basic maintenance, and more. Class will include a tour of the garden to identify trees that grow well in North Texas. $25 or $22.50 for Members

Keeping your landscape alive in the Texas heat can take a toll on your wallet as well as your irrigation system. Fall is a great time to assess your system and consider making some changes that will help you conserve water now and next summer. Amanda Griffin, licensed irrigator and owner of Smart Outdoor Services, will dicuss sprinkler components before diving into scheduling strategies to decrease your water use in the cooler months while keeping your landscape healthy and strong. A little work on your system now will mean that when the sun starts to bake your landscape, both your garden and your wallet will be a little greener! $25 or $22.50 for Members

Butterflies are a delightful addition to any garden and their hard work as pollinators make them welcome in any season. Fall is the perfect time to create a haven for these garden guests in your landscape. Dan Coletti, owner of Just Natural Design, will show you the ins and outs of designing a garden for butterflies. Participants will learn which plants attract which butterflies, how to evaluate the garden you have and the must-haves for every butterfly garden. $25 or $22.50 for Members

Successful vegetable gardening requires knowing what and when to plant. Join Cathi Gartin, Vice President of  The Cultivated Gardener, as she shares tips on getting started in this fun, rewarding and delectable hobby. Learn which vegetables grow best each season, when and how to fertilize, water and more. New techniques and ideas have created a bounty of possibilities in gardening. Come feast on the information presented in this class and go home with your own container of veggies to get you started. $40 or $36 for Members

Do you want to have a fabulous garden that is easy to maintain and easy on the wallet? Diana Harris, TCLP, Dallas County Master Gardener, will show you the features to include that make a great garden. She will show you how to incorporate interesting perennials, flowering shrubs and edibles that are beautiful throughout the year; how to invite wildlife to your garden and how to select plants that are easy to maintain. Come find out how to create a beautiful and unique landscape using all types of plants that work well together in the garden and won’t break the bank! $25 or $22.50 for Members

Gardening organically not only makes good environmental sense, it also makes good financial sense. Susan Gregory, avid organic gardener and Master Naturalist, will show you how to get your landscape growing the organic way.  Learn how to harness the richness of your soil and put it to work for you. Find out the most important components of a happy and healthy garden, including which soil amendments will get your plants growing, plant survival tips, the scoop on organics, alternatives to harsh chemicals and much more. Come find out how to have a beautiful garden naturally. $25 or $22.50 for Members

This is still being scheduled at the moment, but currently we are looking at a system larger than the one built at the last workshop in Farmers Branch. Components will include Fish Tank, media Grow Beds, a Tree Grow Bed, and a Raft tank.